September, 1912.] 



23t) 



Hybridisation: Pests and Treatment 



Interesting experiments in hybridising are also in progress at Dominica 

 Botanic Station, and a cross bas been secured between the Alligator Cacao 

 (Theobroma pentagona) which has large beans, and a hardy variety of 

 Forastero. The experiment may lead to results of considerable scientific 

 and economic importance. 



The discussion on cocoa at the conference held in Trinidad on Janu- 

 ary 23rd tinned chiefly on thefungoid and insect pests attacking the crop. 



Mr, Rorer demonstrated that both the pod rot and stem canker of 

 cocoa was due to Fhytophthora Faberi. Mr. Gnppy demonstrated the 

 method of trapping cocoa beetles by means of pieces of the branch of 

 the wild chataigue (Fachira aqualica), a tree particularly attractive to 

 the beetles, and therefore not to be grown near a Cocoa estate. 



The value of spraying as a control of both insect and fungoid pests 

 was strongly advocated ; the use of differ ent types of nozzle was demons- 

 trated, and suitable foims of appaiatus for use on hilly plantations also 

 exhibited. 



Cocoa Forest of Tobago. 



Mr. Hill describes his- penetrating into the cocoa forest near Tobago, 

 where he saw trees from £0 to 100 ft. high looking more like huge palms 

 with a crest of branches at the top. Seeds dropped beneath had sprouted 

 producing seedlings like fishing rods 40 to 50 ft. long, with but a few 

 leaves on the top. 



Mr. Hill pays a tribute to the work of the Department of Agriculture 

 under Dr. Watts's direction, and remarks that the centralization of the 

 small local departments, so successfully effected by Sir Daniel Morris, has 

 been the means of helping forward, very materially, the general prospects 

 of the smaller Islands. 



COTTON CULTIVATION IN INDIA. 



The British Cotton Growing Association has issued a pamphlet em- 

 bodying correspondence re Cotton Growing in India, wherein we find an 

 interesting note by the Officiating Inspector-General of Agriculture. The 

 latter summarises the work done by the Department of Agriculture under 

 the following heads— (1) Survey of indigenous varieties, (2) Selection and 

 distribution of seed, (3; Hybridisation, (4) Introduction of exotic varieties 

 to likely areas, (5) Trial of tree cotton, (6) Introduction of superior local 

 varieties to other likely localities, (5) Improved methods of cultivation, 

 (8) Extension of cultivated areas. 



With the exception of the trials with tree cotton which have failed 

 and have consequently been given up, work under all the heads have been 

 continuous and progressive. 



The Director-General is not disposed to recommend that Government 

 should for the present take up any new line of work for improving quantity 

 and quality, but is strongly of opinion that for the production of finer 

 cotton it is essential that agencies should be set up for buying, ginning, 

 baling and exporting long staple cotton with a view to establishing a 

 market for such produce from India, so that the cultivator may get a 

 fair price at his door. 



Cotton grown in Tinnevelly from American seed has been reported as 

 suitable for a considerable class of goods produced in Lancashire which it 

 is stated could use 500,000 bales per annum. 



